China’s decision to impose sanctions on Defense Secretary Gilberto “Gibo” Teodoro constitutes a direct challenge to Philippine sovereignty and its constitutional order, Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan said.
Sen. Pangilinan said Teodoro, as a member of the Cabinet and the President’s alter ego on defense and security matters, is tasked with articulating and implementing national policy. He stressed that punitive action against the defense chief and his family over official duties is not only a personal attack but also an affront to the President, the government, and the Philippine state.
He described the move as part of a continuing pattern of coercion against smaller states, noting that the Philippines has consistently responded with diplomacy, restraint, and adherence to international law despite ongoing tensions.
The senator pointed out that Manila continues to rely on legal mechanisms, including the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea, which is final and binding under international law, as the basis for asserting its maritime rights.
He said the sanctioning of a sitting Cabinet official for defending the arbitral ruling and asserting internationally recognized rights undermines China’s standing in the global community and strengthens calls among democratic nations to resist coercive actions.
Sen. Pangilinan also cited a personal experience in 2023, when China reportedly blacklisted the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), a regional network of political parties that includes Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), barring its officials from entering mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau.
At the time, he was serving as CALD chairperson and was no longer a sitting senator.
He called on the Department of Foreign Affairs to issue a formal protest against China’s sanctions on Teodoro and his family.
He added that as the Philippines approaches the 10th anniversary of the 2016 arbitral ruling on July 12, the country must continue to reaffirm its rights in the West Philippine Sea and ensure that officials and citizens can defend those rights without fear of foreign intimidation.